Mathieu Debuchy, Arsenal

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Barring the dramatic collapses, Arsenal's defence was well-organised last season. It was often the distance between the defensive and midfield lines—or the under-performing holding pivot itself—that let the flurries of goals in.

Central to their overall efficiency was the defensive protection Bacary Sagna gave Per Mertesacker on the right, restricting his forays forward and allowing Kieran Gibbs to fly forward from the left.

Mathieu Debuchy, Sagna's replacement, is another Gibbs; a marauding runner. Mertesacker stands to become very exposed very quickly when the Frenchman goes forward, but if Debuchy tempers his attitude, he becomes a wasted peripheral.

Bafetimbi Gomis, Swansea City

Bafetimbi Gomis was signed on a free so it's difficult to criticise, but it does feel like acquiring the Frenchman is Garry Monk's next step away from the possession brand Swansea City have built.

Gomis can be brilliant, yet also consistently frustrating. He's not the typical target man you'd find leading the line of a team spending 60 percent of the time on the ball, and he won't be able to play in a two with Wilfried Bony either, should the Ivorian stay.

James Rodriguez, Real Madrid

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If James Rodriguez signs for Real Madrid—and that seems likely since he's in Madrid right now, per The Independent—the same argument for Toni Kroos applies to him.

James plays best as a No. 10 just like he did at Banfield, and while he's still extremely good from the left side and has played from the right for FC Porto, he's not displacing Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ciro Immobile, Borussia Dortmund

Ciro Immobile scored a lot of goals last season, with his 22 for Torino enough to earn the Capocannoniere award in Serie A.

He's a very good poacher and looks in exceptionally good shape, but he's not the complete forward that Jurgen Klopp usually hangs his hat on.

In fact, his contribution to build-up play needs a lot of work and Borussia Dortmund need to get coaching immediately...unless their plan is to change the tactics and not rely on a big, playmaking striker.

Sidney Sam, Schalke 04

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Back in January, Sidney Sam sealed a €2.5 million summer move to Schalke 04 from Bayer Leverkusen.

Considering how important a role Sam played as the piercing right-winger for Sami Hyypia last year, it was surprising to see him throw in the towel at the Bay Arena...for a job competing with Jefferson Farfan.

Farfan has owned the right flank for years at the Veltins Arena; will Sam play on the left or challenge? Either way, it's a step down from his best role.

Enner Valencia, West Ham

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Enner Valencia's move to West Ham either goes superbly or horribly; there is no middle ground here.

He showed promise as a centre-forward playing off a target man for Ecuador at the FIFA World Cup, and it's very translatable when you consider he's moving to a team that boasts Andy Carroll to better Felipe Caicedo's contributions.

But he's just starting to learn his trade as a forward, having been stuck there following the tragic passing of Christian Benitez. He's enthusiastic yet raw, and the Premier League is unforgiving.

At Emelec and Pachuca he always played as a winger—that's his bread and butter—and Sam Allardyce is in no need of another head-down, athletic wide man.

Urby Emanuelson, Roma

Urby Emanuelson is a fairly harmless signing by Roma, but the squad they've built is stacked and there's a clear gulf in quality between he and any other in his position.

That says a lot considering he plays about eight positions anyway, but his best slots—left-back, wing and central midfield—are taken up by Ashley Cole, Gervinho, Adem Ljajic, Juan Iturbe, Kevin Strootman and more.

Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea

This is a very interesting transfer; the type you can't help but bite on when it's offered your way.

Cesc Fabregas is a free-roaming player and he excels when given license to do as he pleases—elite playmakers always do.

But what about his fit in Jose Mourinho's rigid, uncompromising system? The Portuguese allowed one player (Eden Hazard) freedom last season, will he stretch to two or force Cesc to learn the system and stay compact?

By no means is this a flop-in-the-making, but it's a curious one to watch unfold.

Ron Vlaar, Southampton

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Ronald Koeman has admitted to FOX Sports (Netherlands) that Ron Vlaar is an option for Southampton should Dejan Lovren leave the club (h/t The Metro).

His FIFA World Cup 2014 performances wowed many, but for the Saints he's a fairly dreadful fit on paper. He's never been too confident with the ball at his feet, remains happy to lump it to a target man and hardly exudes finesse.

He's good at what he's good at, but at 29 years of age he's not getting any better at the things he's not.

Dejan Lovren, Liverpool

Dejan Lovren is on the verge of signing for Liverpool for circa £15 million, per The Guardian.

The Croatian is, undoubtedly, a very good player and he enjoyed a phenomenal campaign at Southampton last season, but does Brendan Rodgers really need another central defender?

Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Sebastian Coates, Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori are all fighting for roles in the first team, and while one (Coates) is expendable and another (Ilori) is loanable, having four prominent CBs on the books is a risk—Champions League or not.

To make matters worse, Lovren is left-sided. Just like Agger and Sakho—the two supposed first choices in the side.